August Newsletter

Hi hi hi!

One month into our new space.  Thank you to everyone that helped out with the move and the build out, and thank you all for your patience while we still get adjusted to our new space.

Appreciate you all very much!

Upcoming schedule change:

Based on survey results, the overwhelming response was the need for a more structured training program, and I wholeheartedly agreed; but we were so limited by our space, it would’ve been impossible to execute.

But now we have twice as much space-  So here we are!

STARTING TUESDAYS SEPT 6TH.

The way the schedule is arranged is the only way we can make it congruent.

Things like having ‘back to back’ days of sparring and clinching are the only ways we can fit a beginners class on M&W and still allow space for a second class to operate concurrently, as well as allow the coaches to be able to teach on the days they are available.

So what’s new?

New classes are everything in bold.  Quick summary:

M&W 6PM ADV. MT

M&W 7PM INTRO/BEG. MT

MON.  7PM COMP CLASS

THURS. 7PM INTRO TO CLINCH

What’s changed on the schedule?

We no longer will have Beginners Muay Thai M&W at 5PM.  We will be expanding our kids program to 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday from 5-5:45PM

Our ‘Wednesday Evening Sparring and Drilling’ class will now be on Tuesdays at 7PM.

So what’s what?  How will the classes be any different?

 Advanced Muay Thai:

Half hour of drilling, half hour of pad work covering advanced topics of the sport and how to practice them on the thai pads.  Thai pad holding will be very interactive using belly pads and shin pads.  Class size will be limited to 12-14 people.

Intro/Beg. Muay Thai:

Covering the very basics of drilling and how to hold thai pads.  Same format as advanced classes but simplified.  This will be a great class to get a refresher on how to drill and hold pads.  

Competition Class:

Part drilling, part sparring.  Are you interested in competing?  Or the aspects of competition such as scoring, officiating, judging, cornering?  Maybe you want to help with the competition team as a training partner.  This will be class to learn all about the aspects of competition.

Intro Clinch:

Learn how to wrestle, footwork, positioning, attacking and how to be a good training partner!

What remains the same?

All of our morning classes, Fridays and Saturdays.  

All of our ‘All levels’ classes will be taught in the same manner as they currently are.

Am I ‘Advanced’ enough?

Great question!  One I get asked quite frequently!

If you have had more than 6 months of consistent training of Muay Thai at TBI, and think of yourself as a competent pad holder and striker, then you belong in the ‘All Levels’ Muay Thai class.

Advanced class criteria though:

One year of consistent training at TBI.

Proficient Pad holder, striker and training partner.

Must have shin pads.

What if I trained elsewhere?

Do one month in our ‘All levels’ class first for assessment.

And on the topic of assessments, we will be offering them to all our members as a way to see what they need to work on.  Coming Fall ’22.

Lastly:  WILL I HAVE TO PAY MORE!>?!>!?!?!?!?!

No.  Those that are paying ’$149 a month for 2 x a week will now be allowed an open schedule.

Meaning , any 2 days throughout the week.

All current parents paying for kids membership will remain at $99 per month for the full schedule.

Kids program price will increase in September for all new and prospective members.

Ok-  That’s all for now!

New Coach:

The expansion of our program will require some more help, so we are are so happy to announce that long time member and former TBI athlete Lee Cabacungan will be joining the TBI Coaching Team as an assistant Coach Monday evenings.

You may know Lee as our open gym manager, but Lee has been apart of the TBI community for about 6 years, having training Muay Thai prior to that in Maui where he is from.

Aside from many years of training, Lee has competed for us a few times as well.

Looking forwards to having you as a part of the team.  Thank you for your help!!!!

LA Taiko Festival:

On the topic of long time TBI member and open gym manager and now new TBI coach, Lee along with his partner Tomomi are putting on a taiko concert on August 6th at 5:30 in Little Tokyo at the Aratani Theater.

On top of being a TBI competition team sponsor, Lee is a huge support contributor to the gym in general, always going out of his way to be of service to its members and athletes.

Along with other contributors to the gym, Simon will be a featured guest artist playing guitar.

If you can make it, please come down support their production.

I’ll be there along with other several TBI members! 

Maybe we can grab dinner afterwards!!

Tickets are $35 for floor seating and $25 for balcony (going fast!)

They are also looking for support by either buying merch:

$25 tees

$15 tote bags

or donations for ad space in the program; 

comes with 1-2 tickets or t-shirts based on donation amount.

All information for the concert and merch/donations can be found at:

website: lataikofestival.com

IG: @LATaikoFestival

Email: LATaikoFestival@gmail.com

Many thanks!!!

‘Generations of Hongo Taiko celebrate the contributions of Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka’

Erin wins bronze at the World Games 2022:

It was no easy feat. And some will say ‘If you ain’t first you’re last’.

Fuck. Off.

After a 6 month fight camp with fights in January, March, June and then July, with each opponent getting increasingly difficult ( for ex.: #1 ranked in the U.S., #1 ranked in Europe, #1 ranked in the World)

Erin goes on to beat Thailand to medal in bronze. 

As always, all gratitude goes towards our community, our coaches as well as our sponsors and supporters that have helped us throughout the last couple of months.

We appreciate you all very much, and I, as Coach Vic, appreciate everyones patience.

THERE’S BEEN A LOT GOING ON.

As for Erin, it was a great journey and thank you for pushing me to be a better coach, leader and human being.

And thank you to anyone who I may forgotten, all her training partners and teams that she has cross trained with in the last year. Appreciate you all very much.

Re: Greg Wootton Seminar

Thank you to Greg Wootton for an extraordinary seminar.

Not only were a lot of cool, progressive techniques demonstrated, but also Greg spoke about achievement and performance mindset that really resonated with myself as well as a few others.

A great athlete, coach and a stand up, respectful gentleman; I highly recommend him to any gym owners that like to host seminars.

And as a Nak Muay, I highly recommend you get a chance to train with him, whether in a private lesson, class or seminar!

Thank you to all our guest that traveled far and wide to visit us and to participate in the seminar.

Thank you to all our members for participating and being accountable to your word.

Seminar holds will be chargeback today, you should see the funds within the week!

TBI GOES TO MEXICO:

We back at it again!  Coach Jeannie has a fight booked Saturday, August 20th in Tulum, Mexico.

Keep everyone posted, wish us luck!

Closed Labor Day

Just a reminder we will be closed Sat 9/3-Mon. 9/5 in observance of Labor Day.

August Curriculum

8/1-8/6:  Long Guard/Posting/Stiff Arm

8/8-8/13:  Catching Kicks to Sweeps

8/15-8/20:  Push Kick Defense to Boxing Counters

8/22-8/27:  Same Combo Variance/Pad Holding

8/29-9/2:  Freestyle Week